Over 100 demonstrators under the banner of Concerned Citizens for Justice and Economic Freedom staged a peaceful protest outside the Nigerian High Commission in Accra on Wednesday June 18, demanding swift intervention by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what they describe as the targeted harassment and intimidation of Ghanaian businesses operating in Nigeria.

The group, made up of civil society advocates, businesspeople, and concerned citizens, marched with placards bearing strong messages. Some called on Ghanaian President, John Mahama to intervene, while others urged Nigerian security authorities to stop the reported abuses against Ghanaian nationals and businesses.

At the heart of the protest is the escalating controversy surrounding JonahCapital Nigeria Ltd and its affiliates, Houses for Africa Nigeria Ltd and Mobus Property Nigeria Ltd—businesses promoted by renowned Ghanaian statesman and investor Sir Samuel Esson Jonah.

The companies and their executives, including Kojo Ansah, Victor Quainoo, James Mensah, and Isaac Akwesi Ampong, have allegedly been subjected to physical assaults, police harassment, and even gun violence, particularly at the River Park Estate in Abuja.

In a formal petition submitted to the Nigerian High Commissioner in Ghana, the group demanded an immediate end to what they describe as state-backed intimidation. The petition outlined a pattern of abuses by top Nigerian security officials, including Inspector General of Police Olukayode Egbetokun, FCT Police Commissioner Ajao Saka Adewale, DCP Akin Fakorede, and senior officials at the EFCC.

According to the petition, Ghanaian staff were beaten, threatened, and shot at, with vehicles vandalized even during high-level diplomatic engagements, such as the Ghanaian Foreign Minister’s recent visit to Nigeria in April 2025.

Protesters said these acts not only violate human rights but also threaten the diplomatic and economic cooperation between Ghana and Nigeria under ECOWAS frameworks.

The petition also pointed out the stark contrast between the treatment of Nigerian businesses thriving in Ghana—including major banks and fintech companies like Flutterwave and Bento Technologies—versus the near-hostile climate faced by the few Ghanaian firms attempting to operate in Nigeria.

The demonstrators made four key demands to President Tinubu, including:

1. The release of the Special Investigation Panel (SIP) report on the River Park Estate dispute.

2. The prosecution of all individuals involved in the alleged harassment and abuse.

3. A formal response from the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana.

4. Assurance of protection and fair treatment for Ghanaian businesses operating across Nigeria.

This protest comes just days after the affected businessmen filed a legal suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking ₦200 million in damages and an injunction against further harassment by Nigerian police and the EFCC. 

The court filing accuses law enforcement of suppressing an earlier SIP report that had cleared the Ghanaian investors of wrongdoing and alleges that rogue elements within the Nigerian system are supporting a rival land-grabbing syndicate.

As diplomatic tensions rise, today’s protest signals growing public pressure in Ghana for authorities in both countries to address the issue transparently and fairly, to preserve the long-standing Ghana-Nigeria relationship.

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